Definitions for possessivepəˈzɛs ɪv

This page provides all possible meanings and translations of the word possessive

Princeton's WordNet(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

genitive, genitive case, possessive, possessive case(adj)

the case expressing ownership

possessive, genitive(adj)

serving to express or indicate possession

"possessive pronouns"; "the genitive endings"

possessive(adj)

desirous of owning

"small children are so possessive they will not let others play with their toys"

possessive(adj)

having or showing a desire to control or dominate

"a possessive parent"

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

possessive(Noun)

The possessive case.

possessive(Noun)

A word used to indicate the possessive case.

possessive(Adjective)

Of or pertaining to ownership or possession.

possessive(Adjective)

Indicating ownership, possession, origin, etc.

possessive(Adjective)

Unwilling to yield possession of.

He is very possessive of his car.

Origin: possessivus, of or pertaining to possession, from possessio, possessing, possidere, to possess.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

Possessive(adj)

of or pertaining to possession; having or indicating possession

Possessive(noun)

the possessive case

Possessive(noun)

a possessive pronoun, or a word in the possessive case

Origin: [L. possessivus: cf. F. possessif.]

Freebase(2.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

Possessive

A possessive form is a word or grammatical construction used to indicate a relationship of possession in a broad sense.
Possessive forms that occur with a noun and indicate the possessor of the referent of that noun, thus serving as determiners or adjectives, are called possessive determiners or possessive adjectives. Examples include the English words my and Jane's as used in the phrases my friends and Jane's work.
Possessive forms that indicate the possessor of something but occur independently, without qualifying a noun, are called possessive pronouns. Examples in English include the words mine and yours as in mine is red and I prefer yours. Forms such as Jane's in I prefer Jane's perform the same function, though they are more rarely described as possessive pronouns, being derived from nouns.
Nouns or pronouns taking the form of a possessive are sometimes described as being in the possessive case, although the description of possessives as constituting a grammatical case in languages like English is often disputed. A more commonly used term in describing the grammar of various languages is genitive case, though this usually denotes a case with a broader range of functions than just producing possessive forms. Some languages occasionally use the dative case to denote the possessor, as in the Serbo-Croatian kosa mu je gusta "his hair is thick".